A federal judge in Johnstown has granted a temporary stay on the possible settlement of a civil rights case in which a landlord from Clearfield County has been accused of seeking sexual favors from female tenants in exchange for reduced rent, or excusing late or unpaid rent.

The civil rights case, in which the Department of Justice contended landlord Timothy Britton of DuBois violated the Fair Housing Act by his actions, was filed in May 2023 and names Britton and Britton Enterprises LLC, (doing business as Tim’s Apartments) as defendants.

Since the lawsuit was filed in the District Court in Johnstown, it has proceeded through the pretrial stages of the legal process and a post-discovery conference was set for Monday.

In an order signed this week by District Judge Stephanie L. Haines, any further action in the case has been put on hold until May 1 because Britton’s Pittsburgh attorney is engaged in a lengthy trial of an unrelated case.

Haines pointed out in her order that the attorneys for Britton and the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice jointly requested the stay.

According to the stay request, a “settlement in principle” was reached by both slides during a mediation conference that occurred last June.

It indicated that loans to cover the agreed-upon money damages to the victims are still being worked on but it also noted, “There is only one current issue that had not yet been resolved.”

The government in its lawsuit indicated that Britton’s company owned or operated an estimated 40 rental properties in Falls Creek, DuBois, Brockway and Reynoldsville.

It charged that Britton was actively involved in the management of those properties.

Since 2016, it was charged Britton subjected female tenants to “unwelcome and severe or pervasive sexual harassment” that included reducing the rental payments, reducing or excusing rental payments ion exchange for sexual acts.

In his answer to the lawsuit, Britton denied the accusations.

The government is seeking a declaration that the Fair Housing Act has been violated, and that each victim receive damages, as well as the application of civil penalties.